Silicon Image I-Scan Ultra

Item# SIMISU

$1,199.00

Product Description

New Page 1

iScan
Ultra
Video Processing System

Introducing the iScan
UltraTM, the latest addition to the
acclaimed iScan family of video processing systems. The iScan Ultra builds
on the performance of the highly rated iScan ProTM,
extending functionality to provide the complete video solution for today's
home theater.

High Quality Scaling for full aspect ratio control, enabling a 4:3
letterbox format to fill the screen of a 16:9 widescreen display.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI) output, offering the highest digital video
quality for the growing number of DTVs and projectors supporting DVI
inputs, without suffering the losses associated with an analog interface.

The iScan Ultra bridges the gap between the array of existing
standard-definition video sources and the performance of today's DTVs and
projectors, providing a seamless system solution for a quality home
theater experience.

Silicon Image's iScan digital video processing
products are compatible with a wide range of DTVs, projectors and
progressive scan displays, such as plasma and LCD panels.

The iScan converts NTSC (480i) broadcast format to a 480p format, and PAL/SECAM
formats to a 576p format. NTSC is used in North America and countries with
60Hz AC power. PAL is used in Europe (excluding France), China, and
countries with 50Hz AC power. SECAM is similar to PAL and is used in
France.

Please note that displays limited to a standard NTSC, Pal or SECAM
interlaced signal (and not able to support a progressive video output),
will not function with iScan products. To determine if your display is
compatible with the iScan product family, please compare the following
iScan output timings with your display's specifications:

480p: 720 x 480, 60Hz refresh, 31.5KHz Horizontal scan rate

576p: 720 x 576, 50Hz refresh, 31.25KHz Horizontal scan rate

The iScan Pro can output either RGB or YPbPr color formats. The iScan
Ultra also supports RGB and YPbPr outputs, as well as the DVI (Digital
Visual Interface) for an uncompressed all-digital output.

If your display supports the above timing it should be compatible with
iScan products. For a listing of products tested for iScan compatibility,
please click on the links below.

Direct View is the formal name for a normal
"tube" TV. They are based on large CRTs (cathode ray tubes) that
project the image onto a the surface of a phosphor-lined glass screen
which you view directly, hence the name. Some other devices, such as
projectors may also use CRTs but they project the image onto a separate
screen. Direct View sets, if they are capable of accepting a 31.5kHz
progressive signal, are typically much improved with an iScan. Some of
these sets may have their own internal line doubler or "upconverter"
which is used to convert the incoming 15.75kHz (normal) signal to 31.5kHz
(or higher). The advantage of an iScan in these cases is that it does a
much better job of this upconversion than any of the current generation of
embedded line doublers.

Projectors

Projectors fall into two categories, those
that project the image onto the front (viewed) surface of a reflective
screen and those that project onto the rear surface of a translucent
screen. Both types can be based on CRTs, LCDs (liquid crystal displays),
DMDs (digital micromirror device from Texas Instruments, also known as DLP)
or some other technology. Of all of these, CRTs are the most improved with
a line doubler. The effect on LCD and DMD projectors greatly depends on
the make and model of the projector - with some there is a dramatic
improvement, with others it is not as dramatic.

Flat Panel Televisions

Flat Panel Televisions, typically based on
plasma or LCD technology, can be thought of as inherently progressive in
that the entire image is drawn at one time with no interlacing of odd and
even lines. Because of this capability, most of these devices are capable
of acting as computer monitors as well as being used as televisions and
consequently, most can accommodate an iScan. In addition, because most of
the existing flat panels have very poor line doubling built-in, the
addition of an iScan can dramatically increase the quality of the video.